What Is The FemCap Cervical Cap?

FemCap is the hormone-free birth control solution for the modern women. Instead of turning off ovulation with hormonal birth control or implanting a foreign device like a coil/IUD to stop implantation, FemCap creates simply a barrier between the cervix and the sperm. A small silicone cap is placed directly over the cervix to stop sperm from traveling towards the uterus. Because pregnancy can only occur if sperm enters the cervix, travels to the uterus, and meets a fertile egg, this barrier eliminates the risk of pregnancy.

It took years of research to designing a cervical cap that would be comfortable, precise, and easy to use. It's a simple concept, with outstanding results.

Safe, effective, and side-effect free birth control is finally accessible thanks to the FemCap.

Finding Your Size: It's Simple

Diaphragm size is determined by the size of the vaginal canal, which changes often throughout a woman's life and can only be assessed by a trained healthcare professional. Because FemCap is placed directly on the cervix (hence the name, "cervical cap"), which can ONLY be one of three sizes, choosing the correct FemCap size is drastically easier than finding the correct diaphragm size.

After puberty, a woman's cervix size corresponds to a 22mm FemCap. Unless she becomes pregnant, this does not change. Two weeks after conception, the cervix enlarges. This is important because even if a woman miscarries early in the pregnancy her cervix size has changed, and a 26mm FemCap is now necessary. Vaginal delivery is that last event that changes the cervix size. The correct size for someone who has had a vaginal delivery is 30mm.

This simple sizing system based on a woman's obstetric history means it is easy to self-size. This is key to providing effective barrier contraceptive solutions where access to health care professional is difficult. Choose your size, order online, and you can start enjoying natural contraception immediately.

Unique Design

Soft Brim: One side of the brim is longer and one side being shorter, and advanced design that was proven to prevent the FemCap from becoming dislodged during intercourse. The brim is soft and flexible and is comfortable for both partners during intercourse.

Dome: The dome is made from a highly durable silicone, which suctions to the tip of the cervix. The cervix always remains covered by the dome, even though the rest of the FemCap is designed to rotate during intercourse to accommodate different sexual positions.

Removal Strap: FemCap's removal strap makes it easy to simply slip your finger through the strap and remove the FemCap from the vaginal canal. This is a huge upgrade on traditional diaphragms, where users often struggled get a secure grip and comfortably remove the diaphragm.

Comparing FemCap and Diaphragms

The FemCap cervical cap, as the name suggests, caps the cervix and produces a tight suctioned seal, preventing sperm from entering the uterus. Contraceptive gel placed in the dome of the cap increases the suction and adds a second level of protection.

In contrast, a diaphragm sits inside the vaginal cavity and is held in place by muscular support from the sides of the vaginal cavity. Because FemCap is not designed to sit within the vaginal canal, but on top of the cervix, assessing the correct size is done in an entirely different manner. Diaphragms require a fitting by a trained health care professional, while FemCap does not.

Another benefit of the FemCap is its small size. Diaphragms are around the size of the palm of your hand, and can be intimidating and unwieldy. A FemCap is about a third of the size of an average size diaphragm, so it is often easier to get a hang of insertion and removal.

One of the main complaints against diaphragm use is that they are difficult to remove. The addition of a removal ring to FemCap allows you to simply gently press the dome of the FemCap to release any suction, and then slip your finger into the ring to gently slide it down the vaginal canal.

How The FemCap Works

How does the FemCap prevent pregnancy?

It's is simple concept with outstanding results. Place a silicone cap over the cervix to stop sperm from advancing to the uterus. Years of research went into designing the perfect cervical cap that would be comfortable, effective, and easy to use.

Why must I use spermicide or contraceptive gel with the FemCap?

The spermicide gel reinforces the physical barrier of the FemCap by increasing the suction effect onto the cervix. The extra spermicide placed in the brim of the cap adds a second layer of protection to increase effectiveness.

Will the spermicide irritate my skin?

Nonoxynol-9 (N-9) spermicide has been sold over the counter for many years with an excellent safety record. FemCap is designed with a groove and a brim to hold the spermicide away from your skin to minimize the chances of irritation. If you find chemical spermicide is irritating your skin, switch to a natural alternative such as ContraGel but NEVER use the FemCap without a gel.

ContraGel is a spermicide alternative that does not contain Nonoxynol 9 at all.

The FemCap is effective with ContraGel on two accounts: it is sealed through the viscosity of the gel, plus the gel's low pH immobilize the sperm, ensuring no live sperm pass the barrier and enter the cervix.

The 60 gram tube of ContraGel typically provides 15-20 applications. These numbers are based on the typical requirements of three to four ml applied to the FemCap for each act of intercourse. Additional ContraGel should be applied to the barrier with a finger or vaginal applicator if more than one act of intercourse occurs.

Could I experience side effects from using FemCap?

If used correctly, are no known local or systemic side effects associated with FemCap. Chemical spermicides often cause irritation, however, so if you have a reaction, switch to a natural spermicide alternative such as ContraGel.

Getting Started With The FemCap

Is FemCap user-friendly?

Yes, FemCap is very user-friendly. The average woman can learn how to insert and remove the FemCap in just a few minutes. During trials for FDA approval, the majority of users said they preferred FemCap to a traditional diaphragm.

Does the FemCap require measurement or fitting?

No, unlike diaphragms the fit of the FemCap is determined by obstetrical history rather than the size of your vaginal canal. Therefore, you can order the FemCap without a prescription and even without visiting a doctor to get measured for size.

Which size FemCap is right for me

Women who have never been pregnant will use the 22mm FemCap; women were pregnant but did not have a vaginal delivery ie: miscarriage (even after just two weeks of pregnancy) or had caesarean delivery will use the 26mm; if in doubt about your pregnancy history, it is safest to choose the 26 mm FemCap. Women who have had a vaginal delivery will use the 30mm FemCap.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your size, feel free to email us.

How Effective Is The FemCap?

The effectiveness of FemCap is totally dependent on correct usage. If you are careful to place the FemCap correctly every time you have sex, the effectiveness is much higher then if you do not take the time to ensure proper positioning. For this reason, there is a wide range of effectiveness rates amongst users, and it is nearly impossible to achieve final effectiveness rates.

One study showed one pregnancy amongst 85 women who completed eight weeks of the study to test the second-generation FemCap. Based on this study, the typical failure rate (Pearl index) of the second generation FemCap was estimated to be 7.6 per hundred women per year.

However, there are a lot of flaws with this study, mainly the small number of participants and the relatively short duration of time. It is estimated that FemCap would be able to achieve a much higher success rate if it was used properly and consistently. If used perfectly, it should achieve up to a 96%-98% success rate.

Follow these rules to ensure YOU use your FemCap perfectly.

Read the instructions carefully or watch the insertion video.

Insert your FemCap before sexual arousal.

Be sure to use a backup method the first few times using FemCap until you have complete confidence that you have inserted it correctly.

Do not remove your FemCap until at least six hours after the last act of intercourse.

If you have more than one act of intercourse, check the position of your FemCap and add additional spermicide with your finger or a vaginal applicator.

If you do not feel you used your FemCap correctly (especially if you are within your fertility window), take an emergency contraceptive pill.

Intimacy With The FemCap

Will my partner notice the FemCap?

FemCap caps the cervix, which sits high in the vaginal canal, so it is unlikely that you or your partner will notice FemCap during intercourse. A very small percentage of couples, where the male has a large penis or the women has very low positioned cervix, may notice the FemCap.

Note that FemCap sits higher up inside the vaginal canal than a diaphragm. If you did not feel the presence of a diaphragm, you will almost definitely will not notice the FemCap.

Is sexual pleasure reduced when using FemCap?

No, FemCap should not reduce sexual pleasure to either partner.

Condoms often break the flow of intimacy, but unlike condoms, FemCap is inserted before intimacy begins. Plus, it is placed deep within the vaginal canal so sensation is not reduced to either partner.

There is also less chance that your partner will feel the presence of the FemCap than a diaphragm. A diaphragm is placed much lower in the vaginal canal to cover the entire space between the symphysis pubis and the posterior fornix, whereas the FemCap is high in the vaginal canal directly over the cervix.

Does FemCap interrupt spontaneity?

FemCap must be inserted before arousal, so we recommend inserting the FemCap if you think there might be a chance that you will be having sex at some point, so that you can keep you love life totally spontaneous. FemCap can be left in place for up to 48 hours.

What do more couples prefer, FemCap or a diaphragm?

In the clinical trials, seventy-five percent of women who have had prior experience with the diaphragm preferred the FemCap.

How To Use The FemCap

How do I insert the FemCap?

This is a brief summary of the instructions for insertion of the FemCap and do no replace the manufacture's full instructions

Step One: Locate your cervix. You may find this easiest to do laying down or squatting.

Step Two: Place spermicide in the dome and groove of the cap.

Step Three: Fold the cap and slide it into your vaginal canal and up to cover your cervix.

Step Four: Place pressure on the removal ring/dome to make sure the cap is adequately suctioned to your cervix.

Step Five: That's it! Just be sure to keep the FemCap in place for at least six hours after having sex.

Can I use FemCap during menstruation?

No, FemCap can not be used during menstruation because it would interfere with the natural flow of menstrual blood. Because you are not fertile during menstruation, contraception is not needed to prevent pregnancy (based on a 22-day cycle with 4 menstruation days).

How do I clean FemCap between uses?

The FemCap should be washed thoroughly with antibacterial soap and rinsed with tap water, then dried and stored in its container. The silicone material will not be affected if you chose to boil your FemCap to sterilize it, but this method of cleaning is not strictly necessary. The medical grade silicone used in FemCap is 100 times less adhesive than Teflon, so no germs or bacteria will remain after a simple wash.

How often should I replace my FemCap.

It is recommended that the FemCap be replaced every two years or sooner if it shows any signs of deterioration.

Note that in testing it is still proven to be unaffected by two years of typical use, the recommendation to replace it is for hygienic reasons, not contraceptive reasons. Real world use shows that constant cleaning of the surface can cause scratching and such abrasions can harbor bacteria, leading to the advice to replace it every two years.

Do I have to use FemCap for the entire month?

You are actually only fertile for about a week out of the month around the time of ovulation, so technically, you only need to use protection during that time. Accurately identifying the fertility window is critical, and you should never guess or estimate your ovulation date.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) and the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) identify ovulation, nullifying the need for contraceptives most of the month. Sperm can live inside the womb for up to 5 days, and ovulation releases an egg which is able to be fertilized for one day. That about seven-day span is referred to as the fertile window and is the only time there is actually a real need for a barrier device.